SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Stephen Rice will call upon the spirit of Belgrade as he and his team-mates attempt to produce another European shock.

THEY may have rested their star names, but a largely second-string Barcelona consigned Rubin Kazan to a place in the Europa League after easing to a narrow victory at the Nou Camp.

AIDEN McGEADY experienced football’s ugly side once or twice in Glasgow, but nothing compared to the scenes that unfolded last Sunday when his Spartak Moscow side travelled to play Anzhi Makhachkala in Dagestan.